Q-Celtic
| Celtic | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: |
Formerly widespread in Europe; today Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Patagonia, Nova Scotia and the Isle of Man |
| Linguistic classification: |
Indo-European
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| Proto-language: | Proto-Celtic |
| Subdivisions: |
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| ISO 639-5: | |
| Linguasphere: | 50= (phylozone) |
| Glottolog: | celt1248 |
Distribution of Celtic speakers:
Hallstatt culture area, 6th century BC
Maximal Celtic expansion, c. 275 BC
Lusitanian area; Celtic affiliation uncertain
Areas where Celtic languages are widely spoken in the 21st century
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The Celtic languages (usually pronounced /ˈkɛltɪk/ but sometimes /ˈsɛltɪk/) are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family. The term "Celtic" was first used to describe this language group by Edward Lhuyd in 1707, following Paul-Yves Pezron who had already made the explicit link between the Celts described by classical writers and the Welsh and Breton languages.
Modern Celtic languages are mostly spoken on the north-western edge of Europe, notably in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall, and the Isle of Man. There are also a substantial number of Welsh speakers in the Patagonia area of Argentina and some speakers of Scottish Gaelic on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Some people speak Celtic languages in the other areas of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In all these areas, the Celtic languages are now only spoken by minorities though there are continuing efforts at revitalisation. Welsh is the only Celtic language not classified as "endangered" by UNESCO.
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